87: Dr. Supriya Rao (aka Gutsy Girl MD) on the Essentials of Gut Health and Her Multifaceted Journey as a GI Physician

In line with the mantra of this show - to "own your health" - this week we speak with gastroenterologist Dr. Supriya Rao, whose Gutsy Girl MD platform has evolved into the go-to resource for all things gut health, nutrition, and lifestyle-related.

Supriya is quadruple board certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, obesity medicine, and lifestyle medicine. She received her undergrad degree from MIT, followed by graduation from Duke University School of Medicine.

In addition to her role as managing partner at Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants in 2014, she serves as Director for Medical Weight Loss at Lowell General Hospital. Supriya is passionate about empowering people to improve their health through sustainable lifestyle changes, and enjoys traveling, running, yoga and spending time with family and friends.

We touched on numerous topics, including:

• The pivotal importance of a healthy gut microbiome, and the benefits of practices such as "eating the rainbow."

• The implications of common phrases like "gut feeling," or "going with our gut" - i.e., an underlying connection between gastrointestinal function and cognition
• The scientific basis for this linkage with the gut brain axis, and the staggering fact that more than 90% of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut
• Dr. Rao's Gutsy Girl MD platform, which leverages Blue Zones principles, newer disciplines such as lifestyle medicine, as well as nutrition, relationships, and other harbingers of whole health to provide patients with a comprehensive approach to owning their health via Instagram and other channels.
• Supriya's somewhat circuitous path to her current specialty of medicine, a bit of a departure from her start in computer science at MIT.
• The differences between the multi-faceted discipline of gastroenterology, and other more compartmentalized specialties, and why it appealed to Supriya.
• The double-edged sword of the South Asian diet, which includes both good (i.e., turmeric, cardamom and other Ayurvedic ingredients) and not so good (i.e., simple carbohydrates)
• The challenges doctors face in adhering to the age-old "physician, heal thyself" mantra
• A look at "the good, the bad, and the ugly" behind biohacking

Want to learn more about all things gut health from Gutsy Girl MD? Connect with Supriya on Instagram at @gutsygirlmd, or visit her at gustygirlmd.com or myigic.com.

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